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Israel warns of more Lebanon strikes if Hezbollah not disarmed
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Ukraine war 'existential', Russia says, launching revenge strikes
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US job market resilient in May despite Trump tariffs
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Musk 'very welcome' in Europe after Trump bust-up, official says
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Sinner faces Djokovic as reigning champion Alcaraz eyes French Open final
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Slain UK journalist's book on saving the Amazon published
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Beckham to be awarded knighthood by King Charles: reports
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Eurozone GDP growth revised up to 0.6% in first quarter
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Dutch election set for Oct 29 after government falls
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Russia cuts interest rates from two-decade high as economy slows
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Stocks steady, dollar up before US jobs data
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Ukraine war 'existential,' Kremlin says, launching revenge strikes
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Hong Kong charges jailed activist for 'collusion with foreign forces'
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Germany faces two more years of recession if US trade war escalates: central bank
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India's Modi opens strategic railway in contested 'crown jewel' Kashmir
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Crusaders thump Reds to book Super Rugby semifinal spot
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Russia pummels Kyiv in deadly attack after Putin retaliation vow
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Uzbekistan coach says historic World Cup spot for 'our entire people'
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Canada, US, Mexico brace for World Cup extravaganza
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Amazon agrees to tackle fake reviews in UK: regulator
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Markets wobble as Trump-Xi talks offset by Musk row
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Venezuelan family feels full force of Trump's crackdown
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India's Modi arrives in Kashmir to open strategic railway
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Bacteria cancels water shows at Japan's World Expo
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New Europe push to curb children's social media use
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Muslim pilgrims 'stone the devil' as hajj nears end in Saudi Arabia
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India's central bank cuts rates more than expected to boost growth
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Vietnam exports up as US tariff threat lingers
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Indian police arrest two after deadly cricket stampede: reports
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China fans savage team again after latest World Cup flop
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Studio Ghibli marks 40 years, but future looks uncertain
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SGA says Thunder have what it takes to rebound from game one heartbreaker
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South Korea turn focus to 2026 after sealing World Cup spot
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Taliban hang up Kalashnikovs to pen memoirs of Afghan war
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India police arrest two after deadly cricket stampede: reports
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Japanese company aborts Moon mission after assumed crash-landing
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Court blocks Trump's new ban on foreign students at Harvard
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Haliburton's last-second shot lifts Pacers over Thunder in NBA Finals
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'No doubt' Canadian firm will be first to extract deep sea minerals: CEO
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'Backs to the Wall' for surfing's cancer survivor Flores
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Stade Francais eye Top 14 survival after 'rubbish' season
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Midak bids to deliver poignant victory in 'Aga Khan's' Derby
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Asian markets wobble as Trump-Xi talks offset by Musk row
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Trump trade, immigration policies clouding World Cup preparations
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School's out: climate change keeps Pakistan students home
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Four-time NFL MVP Rodgers agrees Steelers deal: club
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Australia struggle to fill gaping opener hole left by Warner
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Brazil held in Ancelotti debut, Paraguay move closer to qualifying
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NBA 'should explore' league expansion: Silver
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AI-generated Pope sermons flood YouTube, TikTok

European stocks fall, pound takes fresh tumble
European and Asian stocks slumped Friday over fears about the impact of interest rate hikes that seek to tackle sky-high inflation.
Wall Street stabilised following sharp losses the previous day, however.
Meanwhile, the pound hit a two-year low at $1.2276, one day after the Bank of England (BoE) warned that UK inflation would top 10 percent and the economy contract later this year.
The euro jumped to 85.92 pence, which was last seen late in 2021.
Oil prices rebounded after key producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia refused to lift output more than their planned marginal increase as they weighed tight supply concerns caused by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
- 'Sinking feeling' -
"A sinking feeling has taken over financial markets at the end of a volatile week," said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter.
"Investors are digesting the unpalatable implications of inflation and fretting that there will be a need for a bigger dose of the bitter medicine being administered to try and bring it under control."
Asian equities tumbled after steep Wall Street losses Thursday, as traders contemplated a period of fierce monetary tightening by the US Federal Reserve.
The Fed on Wednesday lifted borrowing costs 50 basis points -- the most since 2000 -- and signalled more increases as inflation sits at the highest levels in decades.
Rate tightening increases borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, harming economic recovery from the pandemic.
On Thursday, US stocks plunged. The Nasdaq shares index -- which is dominated by tech firms particularly sensitive to higher interest rates -- tumbled five percent, while the broader Dow and S&P 500 each slumped by more than three percent.
- 'Porcelain doll' -
That selloff filtered through to Asia, where Hong Kong tanked 3.8 percent Friday as tech firms took a hit.
"Concern about inflation is the culprit and the wild swings we've seen this week are a reminder that sentiment is about as fragile as a porcelain doll," noted AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.
"The other fear is that the cure for inflation, higher rates, could be as bad as the disease if they choke off growth and even lead to recession."
European indices also slumped, with London losing 1.5 percent, Frankfurt 1.6 percent and Paris 1.7 percent.
After starting trade lower, Wall Street's main stock indices were treading water in late morning trading.
A strong US jobs report showed the world's top economy remains resilient, and wage growth -- a key inflation worry for the Fed, was moderate.
However, the report also indicated people left the labour force last month, which will make it more difficult for the Fed to ease the tight jobs market.
"Given the record number of job openings, that is a signpost that will continue to leave the market concerned about persistent wage-based inflation pressures as employers offer wage-based incentives to attract workers," said market analyst Patrick J. O'Hare at Briefing.com.
"The overall picture continues to support the Fed’s plan for further tightening of policy," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG.
- Key figures at around 1530 GMT -
New York - Dow: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 32,967.66 points
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.8 percent at 3,629.17
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.5 percent at 7,387.94 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 1.6 percent at 13,674.29 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.7 percent at 6,258.36 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 3.8 percent at 20,001.96 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.2 percent at 3,001.56 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 27,003.56 (close)
Brent North Sea crude: UP 2.2 percent at $113.38 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.4 percent at $110.88 per barrel
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0590 from $1.0542 on Thursday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2366 from $1.2362
Euro/pound: UP at 85.64 pence from 85.28 pence
Dollar/yen: UP at 130.25 yen from 130.20 yen
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X.Karnes--AMWN